Nerves control muscle fibers. Muscle twitching is an involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers. When individuals play sports/work out vigorously or for a long time, they may experience muscle twitching and can often see and/or feel the twitches happening. The most worked-out muscles are likely to twitch, which includes the biceps, thighs, and calves, but twitches can occur in any muscle. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, and functional medicine can help relax the muscles, improve circulation, restore function, and train individuals to prevent future episodes.

Muscle Twitching Chiropractor

Muscle Twitching

A muscle twitch often occurs after intense physical activity or a hard workout because the muscle or muscles have been overworked, and there is hyper-excitability of the nerve/s that makes the muscle/s continue to contract.

  • A muscle twitch that can be seen is called fasciculation.
  • A muscle twitch that cannot be seen is called fibrillation.
  • If there is pain or the twitching is prolonged, it is a muscle spasm.

Causes

The most common causes include the following:

  • Intense exercise and rigorous physical activity build up lactic acid in the muscles.
  • Dehydration is a very common factor for shaky muscles.
  • Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies could cause muscle spasms in the hand, calves, and eyelids.
  • Using caffeinated products to increase physical performance.
  • Not enough or a lack of healthy sleep.
  • Anxiety or stress.
  • Certain medications like estrogen and corticosteroids.
  • Nicotine and tobacco use.

Physical Activity/Exercise

  • Intense exercise and physical activity can cause muscle fatigue.
  • Muscle fatigue triggers twitching and cramping in overworked muscle fibers.
  • Electrolytes play a role in muscle contraction.
  • Electrolyte loss and imbalances within muscle fibers through sweating can lead to twitching.

Dehydration

  • Muscle mass comprises 75% water.
  • Water carries nutrients and minerals to muscles to support function.
  • Not being properly hydrated can cause twitching and cramping.

Vitamin D Deficiency

  • Nerves need vitamin D to relay messages to and from the brain to the body’s muscles.
  • A vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle weakness and twitching.

Magnesium Deficiency

  • Magnesium deficiency is known as hypomagnesemia.
  • Magnesium plays a role in maintaining nerve and muscle health.
  • Magnesium helps transport calcium across cell membranes to support nerve and muscle function.
  • A magnesium deficiency can cause twitching anywhere in the body, including the face.

Causes of magnesium deficiency include:

  • Poor diet
  • Diarrhea
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Not addressing magnesium deficiency can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Caffeine

  • Caffeine is a stimulant.
  • Drinking too much coffee, tea, or energy drinks can cause fasciculation.

Not Enough Sleep

  • Brain chemicals or neurotransmitters transmit information from the brain to the nerves that control muscle contraction.
  • Sleep deprivation can affect how neurotransmitter receptors work.
  • This means excess neurotransmitters can build up in the brain.
  • Lack of sleep can affect neurotransmitter function.
  • A common site of fasciculation tiredness occurs in the eyelids.

Anxiety and Stress

  • Experiencing psychological stress or high anxiety levels can cause excess muscle tension.
  • This can lead to muscle twitching.
  • Muscle fasciculation caused by stress can occur anywhere in the body.

Certain Medications

  • Certain medications can lead to involuntary muscle twitching.
  • The reaction can be a side effect due to interactions with other medications.
  • Individuals should discuss side effects and medication interactions with their doctor when taking a new medication.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors are experts on the musculoskeletal system and have many techniques to treat muscle fasciculation and spasms. It often depends on the cause/s, and specific treatment varies on a case-by-case basis. Common chiropractic treatments include:

  • Massage therapy
  • Heat and ice therapy
  • Manual manipulation
  • Joint adjustments
  • Ultrasound
  • Stretches to keep the muscles flexible
  • Exercises to strengthen the muscles
  • Nutritional recommendations

Fasciculation


References

Bergeron, Michael F.. Muscle Cramps during Exercise-Is It Fatigue or Electrolyte Deficit?. Current Sports Medicine Reports July 2008 – Volume 7 – Issue 4 – p S50-S55 doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e31817f476a

Gragossian A, Bashir K, Friede R. Hypomagnesemia. [Updated 2022 May 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (F.L.): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500003/

Küçükali, Cem Ismail, et al. “Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndromes.” Reviews in the neurosciences vol. 26,2 (2015): 239-51. doi:10.1515/revneuro-2014-0066

Maughan, Ronald J, and Susan M Shirreffs. “Muscle Cramping During Exercise: Causes, Solutions, and Questions Remaining.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 49, Suppl 2 (2019): 115-124. doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01162-1

Miller, Kevin C et al. “Exercise-associated muscle cramps: causes, treatment, and prevention.” Sports health vol. 2,4 (2010): 279-83. doi:10.1177/1941738109357299

Riebl, Shaun K, and Brenda M Davy. “The Hydration Equation: Update on Water Balance and Cognitive Performance.” ACSM’s health & fitness journal vol. 17,6 (2013): 21-28. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a9570f

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Muscle Twitching Chiropractor: Sciatica Clinic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Previous articleMyofascial Trigger Pain Affecting The Thumb Muscles
Next articleThe Effects Of Trigger Points Affecting The Chest
Dr. Alex Jimenez
Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.